June 25, 2014

According to ESPN, the Mavs are close to acquiring Chandler and point guard Raymond Felton from the New York Knicks for Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, Shane Larkin, Wayne Ellington and a second-round draft pick.

Chandler was the starting center and a huge defensive presence in the middle when the Mavs captured the 2011 NBA title. But after the 2010-'11 season the Mavs refused to meet Chandler's free agent demands and he wound up signing a four-year, $60 million contract with the Knicks.

In 55 games for the Knicks this oast seaosn, Chandler averaged 8.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. The 12-year veteran is slated to earn $14,596,888 next season and wil become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2015.

Felton, meanwhile, will collect $4.36 million next season and has a player option that will pay him $4.54 million in the 2015-'16 season. Felton, who will turn 30 on Thursday, averaged 9.7 points and 5.6 assists per game this past season for the Knicks.

June 24, 2014

DALLAS -- It's difficult to figure out why the Dallas Mavericks never have the pleasure of signing one of the top free agents from the other 29 teams in the NBA.

The Mavs have an energetic deep pockets owner in Mark Cuban who does cartwheels in his attempt to give his players whatever they want and whatever they need. The Mavs play in American Airlines Center, which is one of the NBA's finest arenas.

And the Mavs have a huge fan base, as evident by the fact that the Mavs have sold out every home game since December of 2001 and currently owns the NBA's longest sellout streak.

Also, in Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavs have one of the greatest players in NBA history. Yes, Nowitzki just turned 36 last week.

But Nowitzki was the oldest All-Star in last season's midseason classic, which means he has defied Father Time. And he is humble enough that he doesn't mind another player coming in and being the No. 1 go-to guy on this team.

In addition, the Fort Worth/Dallas area is one of the nation's top metropolitan areas with two quality airports, Six Flags Over Texas, numerous golf courses, terrific restaurants, fine arts facilities, great schools and terrific neighborhoods. This area also has several lakes, all four major pro sports -- plus soccer -- and is home to Texas Motor Speedway and the most palacious football stadium in the world in AT&T Stadium.

If I'm a pro athlete, that's the type of cool stuff I'd like to have where I live.

Another perk awaiting everyone is that Texas has no state taxes, which makes real estate less expensive here than it is in a lot of other places across America. I know, property taxes may be higher here than elsewhere, but you can't have everything.

Over the past two years, the Mavs swung and missed out on free agents Deron Williams and Dwight Howard. Among the bumper crop of players in this summer's free agent pool are LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.

Someone from Anthony's camp said he's got the Mavs on his wish-list of teams he's considering signing with. James, meanwhile, hasn't yet said if he plans to re-sign with Miami or take his talents to another city.

Meanwhile, Chris Gatling is the highest-touted free agent who has left another team to sign with the Mavs in the 34-year history of the Mavs. Gatling left the Heat following the 1995-'96 season to sign with the Mavs.

In his only season with the Mavs during the 1996-'97 season, Gatling averaged 19.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game and played in the 1997 All-Star game. But just eight days after that All-Star game, the Mavs included Gatling in a nine-player trade which brought Shawn Bradley and Robert Pack from the New Jersey Nets.

When the free agency season opens July 1, the Mavs will again step up to the plate and be armmed with sufficient salary cap space to sign James, Anthony or any other free agent. But the reality of the situation is it's up to the free agent to say 'yes' or 'no' to whatever that franchise or city has to offer.

DALLAS -- It's difficult to figure out why the Dallas Mavericks never have the pleasure of signing one of the top free agents from the other 29 teams in the NBA.

The Mavs have an energetic deep pockets owner in Mark Cuban who does cartwheels in his attempt to give his players whatever they want and whatever they need. The Mavs play in American Airlines Center, which is one of the NBA's finest arenas.

And the Mavs have a huge fan base, as evident by the fact that the Mavs have sold out every home game since December of 2001 and currently owns the NBA's longest sellout streak.

Also, in Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavs have one of the greatest players in NBA history. Yes, Nowitzki just turned 36 last week.

But Nowitzki was the oldest All-Star in last season's midseason classic, which means he has defied Father Time. And he is humble enough that he doesn't mind another player coming in and being the No. 1 go-to guy on this team.

In addition, the Fort Worth/Dallas area is one of the nation's top metropolitan areas with two quality airports, Six Flags Over Texas, numerous golf courses, terrific restaurants, fine arts facilities, great schools and terrific neighborhoods. This area also has several lakes, all four major pro sports -- plus soccer -- and is home to Texas Motor Speedway and the most palacious football stadium in the world in AT&T Stadium.

If I'm a pro athlete, that's the type of cool stuff I'd like to have where I live.

Another perk awaiting everyone is that Texas has no state taxes, which makes real estate less expensive here than it is in a lot of other places across America. I know, property taxes may be higher here than elsewhere, but you can't have everything.

Over the past two years, the Mavs swung and missed out on free agents Deron Williams and Dwight Howard. Among the bumper crop of players in this summer's free agent pool are LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.

Someone from Anthony's camp said he's got the Mavs on his wish-list of teams he's considering signing with. James, meanwhile, hasn't yet said if he plans to re-sign with Miami or take his talents to another city.

Meanwhile, Chris Gatling is the highest-touted free agent who has left another team to sign with the Mavs in the 34-year history of the Mavs. Gatling left the Heat following the 1995-'96 season to sign with the Mavs.

In his only season with the Mavs during the 1996-'97 season, Gatling averaged 19.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game and played in the 1997 All-Star game. But just eight days after that All-Star game, the Mavs included Gatling in a nine-player trade which brought Shawn Bradley and Robert Pack from the New Jersey Nets.

When the free agency season opens July 1, the Mavs will again step up to the plate and be armmed with sufficient salary cap space to sign James, Anthony or any other free agent. But the reality of the situation is it's up to the free agent to say 'yes' or 'no' to whatever that franchise or city has to offer.

June 23, 2014

DALLAS -- Count Los Angeles Laker legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar among many observers who were fascinated with the way the San Antonio Spurs were able to use exceptional teamwork recently to defeat the Miami Heat in five games and win their fifth NBA title.

In town Monday to participate on a sports panel for the United States Conference of Mayors, Abdul-Jabbar acknowledged that Miami's three superstars of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh couldn't overcome all the wepaons the Spurs had at their disposal.

"The whole idea of having guys that work well together as a unit, that’s how you win basketball games,'' Abdul-Jabbar said at the Omni Dallas Hotel. "Having outstanding individuals is great, but it’s the team that gets the job done.

"The fact that the people in San Antonio understand that and they try to get the players that get behind that approach, that’s what makes them successful.''

DALLAS --Unless they're able to secure some quality talent via trades or free agency real soon, don't look for the Los Angeles Lakers to win any NBA championships in the foreseeable future.

At least that's what Laker legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said Monday after he participated on a sports panel held at the Omni Dallas Hotel in conjunction with the United States Conference of Mayors.

Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA titles during his 20-year star-studded career, including five with the Lakers. But with guard Kobe Bryant turning 36 in August and trying to recover from left knee surgery -- which limited him to just six games last season -- the game's all-time leading scorer painted a dark picture for his former team.

"It’s going to take them getting some really great players,'' Abdul-Jabbar said when asked when will the Lakers return to their glory years. "Right now the cupboard is bare with regard to talented players.

"They’re going to have to rebuild that talent base before they can be dominant again.''

The last Laker NBA title came in 2010. And this past season the Lakers missed the playoffs while finishing with a subpar 27-55 record.

June 22, 2014

WACO -- Sad news came out of Waco today as the basketball career of ex-Baylor center Isaiah Austin ended after he was disgnosed with Marfan syndrome, a career-ending medical condition.

The condition was revealed during genetic testing as part of the preparation for Thursday's NBA Draft showed that Austin suffers from Marfan syndrome.

“This is devastating news, but Isaiah has the best support system anyone could ask for and he knows that all of Baylor Nation is behind him,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said. “His health is the most important thing.

"And while it’s extremely sad that he won’t be able to play in the NBA, our hope is that he’ll return to Baylor to complete his degree and serve as a coach in our program.”

A 7-1, 225-pounder from Arlington Grace Prep Academy, Austin is totally blind in his right eye due to when he was hit in that eye some eight years ago while playing baseball. After four surgeries, doctors couldn't save Austin's eye.

However, Austin went on to prosper and became a McDonald's All-American, led Grace to two state titles, helped Baylor win the NIT championship in 2013, and to a berth in the NCAA Sweet 16 this past season when he hed the Big 12 in blocked shots with 119.

The cause of Marfan syndrome is from a genetic mutation which leads to problems in connective tissues throughout a person's body. An aspect of Marfan syndrome is aortic enlargement, which can be life-threatening.

June 21, 2014

FRISCO -- Devin Harris said "it's a good possibility'' he'll be back playing for the Dallas Mavericks again next season.

Now it's just a matter of negotiating his new contract.

A 10-year veteran point guard, Harris becomes a free agent on July 1 and is looking for at least a three-year contract. Asked if the three-year, $9 million free agent offer that the Mavs pulled off the table last year when they discovered he had an injured toe would suffice, Harris said: "That's a good starting point.''

Harris, 31, said he also would like to see the Mavs re-sign forward Dirk Nowitzki.

"It starts with (Nowitzki),'' Harris said. "Once we get him we can follow suit.

"Vince (Carter), I would like to see back as well. As well as Shawn (Marion).''

In 40 games this past season with the Mavs, Harris averaged 7.9 points and 4.5 assists in only 20.5 minutes per game. In the meantime Harris will be one of several athletes from various professional sports who will play in Dirk Nowitzki's Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game at 6 tonight at Dr Pepper Ballpark.

June 13, 2014

DALLAS -- Before the playoffs started Metta World Peace said he picked the Dallas Mavericks to win this year's NBA title.

And he's using what the San Antonio Spurs are doing to the two-time defending NBA champion Miami Heat as his platform.

Using his Twitter account to express his views, World Peace sent two tweets expressing that the Mavs are the only team in this year's playoffs who have been able to handle the Spurs. In his first tweet, World Peace, who played this past season for the New York Knicks, tweeted:

"If not for the mistake kick , @dallasmavs would have been in the finals and champions as i predicted before the playoffs started!!''

World Peace was referring to Mavs center DeJuan Blair, who was having his way with the Spurs, but got ejected in Game 4 of the series with 3:08 left -- and Dallas ahead 83-82 -- for kicking San Antonio center Tiago Splitter in the head. The Spurs went on to win that game 93-89 to tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2.

The NBA suspended Blair, who had become a bright spot for the Mavs against the Spurs, from Game 5, which San Antonio won 109-103. But with Blair now back, the Mavs captured Game 6, 113-111, to force a Game 7, which the Spurs won, 119-96.

Since surviving that scare from the Mavs, the Spurs went through Portland in five games in the second round of the playoffs, eliminated Oklahoma City in six games in the Western Conference Finals, and are stunningly ahead of the Heat 3-1 in the NBA Finals.

The fact that the No. 8-seeded Mavs are the only team to win three playoff games against the Spurs led to another tweet by ‏@MettaWorldPeace. The tweet read:

"I'm just saying, look at the playoffs. Which team gave the spurs the toughest time? Which team made the spurs fans worried? Dallas!''

June 12, 2014

NEW YORK -- The Dallas Mavericks will square off against the New York Knicks on July 11 at 3 p.m. CDT in Las Vegas in the Samsung NBA Summer League.

This will be the first of 67 games spanning 11 days which will be played either at the Thomas & Mack Center or at COX Pavilion, which are located on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Here's the rest of the press release which was issued Thursday by the NBA.

NBA TV’s coverage of the Samsung NBA Summer League will begin in COX Pavilion on July 11 with a four-game slate. The network will televise all 67 games, including a total of 38 games live during the event, including the Championship Game on July 21. In addition, fans will again be able to watch, via a subscription-based package, every Samsung NBA Summer League game live at http://nba.com/summerleague and on the NBA Summer League app. A complete broadcast schedule is below.

The reigning summer league champion Golden State Warriors, who recently hired Steve Kerr as their head coach, will begin the quest to defend their title on opening day in a 5:30 p.m. PT tilt against the Charlotte Hornets at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Warriors won the inaugural NBA Summer League Championship in 2013, defeating the Phoenix Suns 91-77 in the title game.

The Hornets are coming off their first trip to the playoffs since 2010 and own the ninth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft presented by State Farm.

The first day of games will also feature a 5 p.m. contest in COX Pavilion between the Cleveland Cavaliers, who own the first overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft presented by State Farm, and the Milwaukee Bucks, who will make the second pick in the draft. Top prospects this year include Australia’s Dante Exum, Duke’s Jabari Parker, Indiana’s Noah Vonleh, Kansas’s Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins, and Kentucky’s Julius Randle.

The Utah Jazz makes its Samsung NBA Summer League debut on Saturday, July 12, when the team faces the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:30 p.m. PT at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Jazz recently hired Quin Snyder as its new coach and owns the fifth overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft.

Tomorrow’s brightest stars often get their start at Samsung NBA Summer League, with seven of the last nine Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Award winners having taken part in action in Las Vegas. Two years removed from his MVP turn at NBA Summer League in 2012, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers was recently named to the All-NBA Third Team. NBA Summer League success is not always reserved for high first-round picks, with the New York Knicks’ Tim Hardaway Jr., the 24th overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, turning a strong showing in Las Vegas last summer into a spot on the 2013-14 NBA All-Rookie First Team.

For the second consecutive year, the event will feature a tournament-style schedule, culminating in the crowning of the Samsung NBA Summer League 2014 Champion on Monday, July 21. Each of the participating teams will play three games apiece between July 11 and 15 before being seeded in the tournament, which tips off on July 16 and runs through the Championship Game on July 21.

Each team will play no fewer than five games during Samsung NBA Summer League 2014.

Samsung, the official handset, tablet, and television provider of the NBA, Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), and NBA Development League (NBA D-League), joins as the title partner of NBA Summer League for the first time this summer.

Tickets for Samsung NBA Summer League are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting NBATickets.com, or by calling 702-739-FANS.

Below is the complete schedule for 2014 Samsung NBA Summer League. Please note all times listed are Pacific.